The 18th annual Paint El Paseo Pink event in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month was held on October 19th.

El Paseo was packed with more than 3,000 participants and was a sea of ​​pink for several hours. The roads were blocked. Stores proudly displayed pink ribbons and information booths lined the sidewalks as doctors, patients, survivors and supporters gathered to fight cancer.

“Paint El Paseo Pink is an incredible community event,” said Mark Scheibach, Executive Director of the Desert Cancer Foundation (DCF). “It is truly inspiring to have so many participants, sponsors and community supporters involved in this annual tradition. Our aim is to raise awareness and raise funds for our Patient Assistance Program where we can help local residents who have been diagnosed with cancer and do not have the funds to pay for their care.”

This year’s Grand Marshals were Dr. Janet Ihde (a cancer survivor), Dr. Amir Lavaf and Dr. Judy Jackson from the Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Chairing the event was again worker Elyssa Goldberg Weintruab, herself a breast cancer “thriver” and El Paseo store owner of 34 years. “I believe that if we can come together as one like DCF and PEPP, then we are capable of achieving anything, even silencing the loud and overwhelming voice of cancer,” she said.

News anchor Olivia Sandusky emceed the event, and cheerleaders from Palm Desert High School and Xavier College Preparatory High School provided entertainment.

In addition to the Comprehensive Cancer Center Presenting Sponsor with Desert Care Network and a generous donation from the City of Palm Desert, Pink Diamond sponsors for the event were Timo’s Air Conditioning and Plumbing, Desert Oasis Healthcare, Graziadio Foundation, Eisenhower’s Luci Curci Cancer Center and Frank Harrison / West Set Village. Pink Ribbon of Hope sponsors include Contour Dermatology, El Paseo Jewelers and One Valley Foundation (Coachella Valley Firebirds). Pink Heart sponsors include Village Pup, Elmer’s Restaurant, Coachella Valley Volkswagen and Flooring Innovations. Think Pink sponsors include Valley Plumbing, SoCal Gas Company, Pete Carlson’s Golf & Tennis, Commerce Realty, VCA Animal Hospital, Caldwell Banker Realty, Coachella Valley Accounting & Auditing, Radnet, Spine & Sport Physical Therapy, Patriot Store and Democratic Headquarters of the Desert .

The event raised more than $200,000, which will provide more than $2 million in cancer care for residents of the Coachella Valley and surrounding areas.

The Desert Cancer Foundation has been serving the local community for more than 30 years. DCF is dedicated to paying for cancer care for valley residents who need financial assistance to cover treatments. Every dollar raised provides $10 in cancer care. Learn more by calling (760) 773-6554 or visiting desertcancerfoundation.org.

Let’s win this pink war!

Carole Stephen-Smith started writing in Scotland for a women’s weekly at the age of 15 and then covered American celebrities for the London Evening Echo. Coming to the desert, she wrote for Desert Woman in the 1990s. Carole focuses on charities that help women as well as medical causes, especially breast cancer awareness and all aspects of child abuse.

This article originally appeared on the Palm Springs Desert Sun: The annual Paint El Paseo Pink event raises breast cancer awareness